What is Sam Darnold?
Opinions of the new Seahawks quarterback are divided in NFL circles. Some view him as a failure, others say he is fantastic. In reality? He is probably just fine.
Seattle notched their first victory of the season on Sunday with a 31-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Darnold finished the match with two touchdowns, two interceptions and 295 passing yards.
In a way, it encapsulated his career to this point. A lot of good, but enough bad plays to make fans question what they are watching.
Darnold critics point out that without a freak special teams play, the Seahawks would most likely be 0-2 right now.
Kaleb Johnson’s blunder for Pittsburgh – letting the kickoff bounce over his head for a touchdown – gave Seattle a lead they never relinquished.
There is also one major criticism of Darnold which has been evident in his two starts in Seattle.
The weakness
The tendency to stare down his target, rather than scanning the full field, is an issue which plagued the quarterback throughout his time in New York.
It contributed to Nick Bosa’s game-ending strip sack against San Francisco. It also allowed Jalen Ramsey to undercut Cooper Kupp for an interception in Pittsburgh.
Given that Darnold does not often produce the outrageous plays Geno Smith regularly did in Seattle, he simply cannot afford to make these errors.
The veteran quarterback will need to ensure he keeps multiple options open in the passing game wherever possible.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an excellent receiver, but Darnold should not expect him to carry the Seattle passing game like Justin Jefferson often did for him in Minnesota.
The strength
Pittsburgh’s kickoff gaffe was a turning point in the match on Sunday, for sure. But Darnold’s ability to find explosive plays when it mattered also played a huge role in the victory.
There were two plays on his final drive which gave hope Darnold really is the top player we saw at the Vikings last season.
The first saw him spin out of a near-certain sack, before finding AJ Barner for a first down. He then connected on a deep shot with JSN for a 43-yard gain.
The verdict
With the game on the line, Seattle’s quarterback delivered.
It will not be the last time Darnold is asked to come up clutch this season, but he has shown he has what it takes.
He was viewed by many fans as a solid, “high-floor” option at quarterback when the Seahawks signed him. But if Darnold can produce these phenomenal plays when it matters most, the ceiling is also a lot higher than advertised.
